IRONMAN 70.3 Berlin

Passport IRONMAN: Top Five Urban Races

Close down parts of a major city for an IRONMAN? You bet. Some of the most spectacular races on the IRONMAN circuit take place in some major urban centers, providing an unforgettable race experience. Here are our picks as the best urban races in Ironman:

IRONMAN European Championship (Frankfurt)

As the home of European Central Bank, Frankfurt is often referred to as the home of the Euro. While it is renowned as a financial and corporate center, it’s a beautiful city with a rich history. The Frankfurter IRONMAN European Championship starts with a fast swim in the Langener Waldsee, a small lake about 16 km outside of the city. After riding into Frankfurt, the athletes do a two-loop bike course that takes them through some beautiful small villages and showcases the spectacular countryside before finishing at the second transition area, which is between the famous Romerberg and the Main River. The four-loop run course goes along the river and is packed with hundreds of thousands of fans, then heads into the amazing finish area in the Romerberg, the site where Germany’s kings were once crowned. It is a race that has to be experienced to be believed.

IRONMAN Wisconsin (Madison)

Madison is renowned as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the United States, but that moniker could easily be changed to being one of the most IRONMAN-friendly spots in the country, too. The day begins with one of the sport’s most spectator-friendly swims in Lake Monona. Family and friends can watch the swim from the Monona Terrace, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and offers one of the most unique transition areas in the sport. The athletes run up the parking lot "helix" to get to their bikes after the swim, then head out 16 miles to do two loops of riding through the hilly, but beautiful farmland in Dane County. The run course takes athletes through downtown Madison and the University of Wisconsin and includes a scenic path along Lake Mendota. The race finishes in front of the Wisconsin State capitol, providing one of the most recognizable finishes in the sport.

IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship (Melbourne)

It comes as no surprise that a country that loves IRONMAN as much as Australia would host the Asia-Pacific Championship in Melbourne, the country’s second largest city. Known as the "Garden City," Melbourne is considered by many to be the cultural center of the country. All of which makes this a great destination event, especially when added to the incredible IRONMAN point-to-point racecourse athletes compete on. The race features a 3.8 km swim off the beautiful beaches at Frankston, a screaming fast bike ride along the EastLink Tollway, followed by a beautiful run along Port Philip Bay to the finish at the St. Kilda Baths.

IRONMAN Switzerland (Zurich)

Set in one of the world’s most famous cities, it’s hard to believe that you’re this close to a major center while competing at IRONMAN Switzerland. The race takes place a few kilometers from downtown and begins with a beautiful swim in Lake Zurich (organizers love to point out that the crystal clear water can be considered "drinking water"). The bike course features a short loop through some local neighborhoods (and the first of many impressive climbs – and vistas – on the course), then heads around the lake. Within about 30 km of the bike ride athletes forget they’re even near a city thanks to the rolling countryside and farmlands. The four-loop run course follows the lakeshore and takes in many of the city’s beautiful parks.

IRONMAN Arizona (Tempe/ Phoenix)

Just minutes away from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, the transition area for IRONMAN Arizona is set up at Tempe Town Lake, where athletes start their day with a one-loop swim that offers easy spectator viewing. The three-loop, relatively flat bike course is also a fan favorite because spectators get to see the riders a few times, as is the three-loop run course that winds around Tempe Town Lake and through Papago Park. Athletes complete this popular race course without ever feeling that they’re minutes away from Phoenix, or the campus of one of American’s largest colleges, Arizona State University.

Your thoughts? Did we miss any urban events that you love to compete at? Drop me a line at with your comments.